Rice for Cambodia How it all began I have always said there is no such thing as a chance meeting, everything happens for a reason.
And so fate played a part in the beginnings of RFC, when I happened to mention to a fellow dog walker in Overport Park, that I had been offered an amazing trip for two to Cambodia, but non of my family or friends could get away to come with me.
Now I only knew Rebecca from our mutual dog walks, but the idea of a trip to Cambodia must have taken her fancy as she said I ll come with you .
At first I was taken aback, but really wanting to go and having faith in the Universe I said OK let s do it Rebecca turned out to be an excellent travelling companion, and like me tended to wander off the tourist route and really get to know a place and so we found ourselves at Watt Thymey Pagoda talking to orphans about their plight, and made a decision then and there that we HAD to make a difference It took 12 months to get things off the ground but the following year a group consisting of our combined friends headed off to Siem Reap and Rice for Cambodia was founded.
The group were all Peninsula residents Jeremy Sharon Richardson, Rebecca and Shaun McCarthy, Annette Colin Stubbs, Paul Barb, Lawson, Nikki Dale Jeffries, Steve Carol Hoffman, Sue and Mark Switala.
We had a wonderful trip, visiting the orphanages, distributing the clothes and toys we had taken to the children, and we pledged to continue our support by purchasing a tone of rice per month and paying for a music teacher for the Orphanage.
GET INVOLVED help us support them Gala Charity Ball Friday 06 May 2011 The Hotel Windsor.
Spring Street, Melbourne 7pm midnight 4-course dinner, coffee, chocolates bubbly, wine, beer soft drink Live Band, Dancing Live Silent auction, Raffle 140 per person Help us raise much-needed funds for Rice for Cambodia Australia For tickets please call or email Sharon on 0408 404633 sharon sharich.org TRIVIA NIGHT Saturday 19th March Peninsula Motor Inn 7pm for a 7.30 start Corner of Stuart Road and Mornington Tyabb Road, Tyabb BYO drinks and food, we will provide tea and coffee.
25 per person.
Tables of 8-10 available or come as an individual.
Ring Rebecca 0438 055 348 or Shaun 0407 055 348 or 99390644 to book a place or a table.
Cheques should be made payable to Rice for Cambodia .
Please confirm by 12th of March at the latest.
Why not stay the night at the motel reasonable That was in 2004 and now in 2011 we have expanded, become Incorporated and a Registered Fundraiser and provide aide for three different Non Government Organisations NGO s helping feed, educate and provide a safe environment for poor, vulnerable children in Siem Reap Cambodia, sponsor girls to university, run education programs for young women fund micro businesses to give families the opportunity to support themselves and live with dignity and self esteem.
Our annual commitment in excess of 30,000.00 with a view to break the cycle of ignorance and poverty.
RFC is now run by a board with Sharon, Jeremy and Annette as office bearers and Rebecca and Shaun on the committee.
The rest of the group still contribute and attend our fundraisers, with Sue and Mark generously giving us the use of their Motor Inn in Tyabb to hold functions such as our upcoming Trivia Night.
Visiting Cambodia has become my annual holiday and seeing the difference we have and continue to make is very satisfying, and just goes to show that everyone can make a difference, we encourage all our supporters to visit our projects if they are in Cambodia and see for themselves.
They tend to come back changed and keen to do more.
Please visit our web site www.riceforcambodia.org and sign up for our regular newsletters to keep up to date with our activities..
Sharon Richardson President Rice for Cambodia Australia Inc www.gdlife.com.au 17 Life Hope Association The Life and Hope Association provides education and support for children in 13 Villages around Siem Reap.
With our assistance LHA provides school uniforms, school bags, books and stationary for the children and encourages them to attend school.
As the families of these children are very poor, families are reluctant to send the children to school, needing them to work in order to provide food.
LHA provides rice canned fish to these families thus freeing the children to get an education.
We assist in providing scholarships for village children to finish high school and advance to university or tertiary education.
We assisted LHA to build a Sewing Centre, where Village girls are trained in all aspects of tailoring, English and life skills.
The LHA also runs an AIDS education service, and a language school, as well as emergency housing and funding for families in dire need.
Rice for Cambodia has pledged long-term support for the Life and Hope Association The Green Gecko Project The GREEN GECKO project is an initiative founded to benefit the lives of street children in Siem Reap, Cambodia The GREEN GECKO project is about empowering these children with skills, education, care and support to enable them to break the begging cycle and live to their highest potential.
It also provides shelter, care and stability for those physically battered or psychologically in need.
RFC assist Green Gecko by providing funds for education and sustainability projects setting up families with micro businesses to help break the cycle of ignorance and poverty.
The Sangkheum Centre for Children The Sangkheum Centre for children provides a secure and loving home for around 60 orphaned, abused or neglected children.
The Centre works with local partner organizations and village leaders to identify children aged between 4 and 17 who are most in need.
The children live in ''family'' groups of five, in individual houses with a stable carer, while they attend school and receive agricultural and vocational training.
An emphasis is put on teaching traditional Khmer dance, music and handicraft arts, which were repressed during the Khmer Rouge regime.
Around the age of 14 or 15, the Centre begins to consult the children about what they want to do once they leave the Centre.
Teenagers are assisted to find places with other networks and training centres such as hospitality training schools or trade apprenticeships.
WWW.RICEFORCAMBODIA.ORG EMAIL info riceforcambodia.org PH Sharon 0408 404633 OUR PROJECTS